Textile fiber and method of producing



Patented May 9,1944

TEXTILE FIBER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING Julius G. Little, Wilmington, DeL,assignor to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation ofDelaware No Drawing. Application March 27, 1941,

Serial No. 385,468

(Cl. 117-168) V containing mineral oil and sari-glycol ester of a 12Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of sizing textile fibersprior to the weaving op eration and to the sized fiber obtained.

Heretofore it has been customary to apply a sizing composition totextile yarns and fibers for the=purpose of providing more eflicientworking of the yams or fibers in the subsequent weaving operation. Thesizing compositions which have been used for this purpose have beenstarches,

together and the softener provides lubrication..-

In sizing rayon yarns a size composition containing gelatin togetherwith sulfonated oils or mineral oil is most generally used. After theweaving operation the size is removed from the woven fabric by adesizing procedure.

The difficulty encountered with use of starch sizes is the difficulty ofremoval from the fabric. Use is usually made of starch enzymes, such asdiastaccmalt, for this purpose. Such a process is not readilyapplicableto rayon fibers. and for this reason starch is not generally used inrayon sizes. Starch sizes also give fibers which shed appreciably.Gelatin is not very satisfactory as a sizing material because of itsnon-uni formity and because it requires long soaking treatments forremoval. With gums the desizing of the fabric after wearing usuallyrequires quite drastic treatment, such as caustic boiling underpressure. Use of sulfonated oils is not desirable because of thetendency of such materials to become rancid on aging. Sulfonated oilsusually provide too much softening effect and too lttle lubrication.Mineral oil provides desirable lubricating and softening characteristicsbut is subject to the disadvantage that it impregnates the fibersunevenly and that its removal from the fibers after weaving isnon-uniform and usually results in oil spots on the fabric.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved method ofsizing both natural and synthetic fibers prior to the weaving thereof.

It is a further object to provide a sized textile fiber containing animproved sizing composition.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The above objects are accomplished in accordance with this invention bysiz ng textile fibers before weaving with a size composition rosinhaving a melting point-"(Hercules drop method) within the range 'of'about 25 C. to about 70 C., and more preferably withinthe range of about35 C. to about-70 C. The rosin esters useful in the process of theinvention may be either completely esterified or may be only partiallyesterified. Esters having acid numbers up to about 100 are utilizable.

I have found, in accordance with this invention, that when mineral oilis combined with a glycol ester of rosin of the above type in a sizingcomposition that the mineral oil no longer suffers from thedisadvantages which have severely restricted its use in yarn sizing. Ihave found also that the glycol ester of a rosin cooperates with themineral oil to give a composition which izes the yarn uniformly andwhich is removable from the woven fabric with great ease. Such rosinesters are soft and flexible and embody desirable adhesivecharacteristics, thus being ideally suited for yarn sizing. The glycolester of rosin thus makes it possible. to obtain the desirableadvantages of mineral oil without the disadvantages which have severelylimited or prevented its use.

I have also found that in using the mixturev of mineral oil and a glycolester of a rosin with starch in sizing compositions, in accordance withthis invention, an improvement in fiber strength with a smaller amountof size in the fiber is obtained in comparison with the usual starchsized fibers. Furthermore such sized fibers exhibit a distinctimprovement over the starch sized fibers in the amount of shedding. Morecomplete removal of the size from the fiber as compared with the starchsized fiber is another distinct advantage.

The yarns sized in accordance with the process of this invention showgenerally improved strength, high pliability without stiffness, andimproved lubricity together with improved elongation and elasticity.

In carrying out the method in accordance with this invention, natural orsynthetic fibers, such as yarns, threads, filaments, etc, are treatedwith a composition containing mineral oil and a glycol ester of a rosinmelting within the range of about 25 C. to about 70 C. (Hercules dropmethod) and preferably within the range of about 35 C. to about 70 C.The composition may be applied as an aqueous emulsion, as an organicsolvent solution, as an aqueous dispersion of an organic solvent soluton or as the mineral oil solution of the glycol ester of the rosin. Thecomposition may also contain any other sizing materials, such as, forexample, starches, gums, softeners, etc.

The glycol ester of a rosin may be used with mineral oil in variousproportions in the sizing compositions depending on the type of sizingde sired and the particular fiber being treated. The amount of glycolester of a rosin and mineral oil used with other sizing agents willdepend entirely on the particular effect desired. With the largerproportions of the rosin ester and mineral oil the advantages of theinvention will be more pronounced.

The rosin used in the production of the rosin esters utilized in thisinvention may be either wood rosin or gum rosin, such as American orFrench gum rosin. It may also be hydrogenated forms of such rosins. Theacids derived from the rosins such as, for example, abietic, pimaric,sapinic, etc., may likewise be used in place of the rosins themselves.

In esterifying the rosin with glycols to produce the rosin estersutilizable in the method of this invention, any of the usual aliphaticglycols may be employed, as for example, ethylene glycol, propyleneglycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol,hexaethylene glycol, nonaethylene glycol, decamethylene glycol, butyleneglycol, dipropylene glycol, etc., or mixtures thereof.

The glycol esters of rosin may be prepared by procedures well known inthe art. The diethylene glycol ester of rosin may be prepared, forexample, by heating together approximately equivalent proportions ofrosin and diethylene glycol in accordance with the process of U. S.Patent 1,779,710 to George M. Norman. Any other suitable procedure maybe followed for preparing the diethylene glycol ester of rosin. Estersmay be prepared with other glycols by any of the wellknown methods.

The mineral oil useful in the compositions may be, for example, therefined type of viscous oil heretofore used in the textile industry. Itsviscosity may be varied to suit the characteristics desired in anyparticular size composition. The relative proportions of mineral oil andglycol ester of rosin utilized in the process of this invention may bevaried within a range of about 25 to about 95% of mineral oil in themineral oil-rosin ester combination and preferably within the range ofabout 40% to about 60% of mineral oil.

It may be desirable in some cases to include a metallic drier in thesizing compositions, such as, for example, cobalt naphthenate, cobaltlinoleate, etc., since with iriclusion of driers a yarn of greatertensile strength may be obtained.

To illustrate the sizing of textile fibers in accordance with thisinvention the following examples are cited:

EXAMPLE I A diethylene glycol ester 01' wood rosin havin an acid numberof and melting point (drop) of 45 C. was dissolved in viscous refinedmineral oil to give a 50% solution. This solution was then emulsified inwater by use of triethanolamine oleate as emulsifying agent to give anemulsion containing 50% by weight of the mineral oil and rosin estercombination. Fourteen pounds by weight of this emulsion were mixed with80 pounds of 60 fluidity corn starch and the mixture heated to a boilwith agitation to gelatinize the starch. Water was then added to bringthe total volume to 100 gallons.

Cotton 76 warp yarn was treated with the above emulsion according tousual sizing procedure. The sized yarn showed increased tensile strengthand elongation over typical starch and gum sized yarn.

EXAMPLE II Cotton warp yarn was sized with sizing compositionsformulated as in Example I above with the exception that the glycolester of rosin used in each case was a diethylene glycol ester as shownin Table I below:

Table I Melting Acid point number Dieigiylcne glycol ester of rosin o Ineach case the sized cotton yarn showed increased tensile strength andelongation in comparison with yarns sized with the usual starch and gumsizes.

EXAMPLE III Twenty pounds of the 50% emulsion of mineral oil anddiethylene glycol ester of rosin described in Example I above werecombined with 40 lbs. of 60 fluidity corn starch as in Example I anddiluted with water to 100 gallons. Cotton thread was then treated withthis sizing composition according to the usual sizing procedure. Thesized yam showed excellent tensile strength and gloss.

EXAMPLE IV EXAMPLE V Forty pounds of the 50% emulsion of mineral oil anddiethylene glycol ester of rosin used in Example I above were mixed with60 lbs. of gelatin and diluted with water to'100 gallons. Acetate rayonwarp yarn wasthen sized with the above composition. The resulting yarnwas characterized by a uniform sizing. The size was easily removablefrom the woven fabric.

EXAMPLE VI Fourteen pounds of a 50% by weight aqueous emulsioncontaining 3 parts of mineral oil to 1 part of the diethylene glycolester of wood rosin were mixed with pounds of 60 fluidity corn starchand diluted to gallons. The sizing composition was then used toimpregnate 18/1 cotton yarn. The sized yarn showed excellent tensilestrength and lubricity.

As illustrated in the above examples, my improved sizing compositionprovides a means of sizing textile fibers to give sized fiberspossessing distinct improvement over fibers sized by the usual sizingcompositions. Thus, the fibers sized in accordance with this inventionshow improved strength and lubricity, high pliability without stifl'nessand excellent elasticity. Furthermore th: size is readily removable fromthe woven fa ric.

The sized yarn showed improved tensile--\ to protect by Letters "ester01 a rosin, said ester having a melting point within the range of about25 C. to about prising mineral oil and a glycol ester or wood rosin,said ester having a melting point within the range of about 25 C. toabout 70 0., the proportion of mineral oil to the said ester bein fromabout 225 to about 95% mineral oil and about 75 to 5% of the said rosinester.

7. A textile fiber sized with a composition comprising mineral oil and aglycol ester of hydrogenated rosin, said ester having a melting pointwithin the range oi. about 25 C. to about 70 C., the proportion ofmineral oil to the said ester being from about 25 to about 95% mineraloil and about 75 to 5% or the said rosin ester.

70 0., the proportion of mineral oil to the said ester being from about25 to about 95% mineral oil and about 75 to 5% of the said rosin ester.

2. The method of sizing textile fibers prior to weaving which comprisestreating the fiber with a composition comprising mineral oil and s818001 ester or wood rosin. said ester having a melting I point withinthe range of about C. toabout C.. the proportion of mineral oil to thesaid ester being from about 25 to about 95% mineral oil and about to 5%of the said rosin ester.

3. The method or sizing textile fibers prior toweaving which comprisestreating the fiber with a composition comprising mineral oil and aglycol ester of hydrogenated rosin, said ester having a melting pointwithin the range of about 25 C. to about 70 0., the proportion ofmineral oil to the said ester being from about 25 to about 95% mineraloil and about 75 to 5% 0! the said rosin ester.

4. The method of 'sizing textile fibers prior to weaving which comprisestreating the fiber with an aqueous emulsion comprising a solution ot aglycol ester or a resin in mineral oil. said ester having a meltingpoint within the range of about 25 C. to about 70' C., the proportion ofmineral oil to the said ester being from about 25 to about mineral oiland about 75 to 5% oi the said rosin ester.

8. A textile fiber sized with a composition comprising mineral oil andthe diethylene glycol ester or a rosin, said ester having a meltingpoint within the range or about 25 C. to about 70 C.. the proportion ofmineral oil to the said ester being from about 25 to about 95% mineraloil and about 75 to 5% or the said rosin ester.

9. A textile fiber sized with a composition comprising mineral oil,starch and a glycol ester of wood rosin, said ester having a meltingpoint within the range of about 25 C. to about 70 0., the proportion ofmineral oil to the said ester being from about 25 to about 95% mineraloil and about 75 to 5% of the said rosin ester.

10. A textile fiber sized with a composition comprising mineral oil,gelatin and a glycol ester of wood rosin, said ester having a meltingpoint within the range or about 25 C. to about 70 C., the proportion ofmineral oil to the said ester being from about 25 to about 95% mineraloil and about 75 to 5% oi! the said rosin ester.

11. A textile fiber sized with a composition comprising mineral oil, ametallic drier and a lycol ester of a rosin, said ester having a meltingpoint within the range of about 25 C. to about 70' C., the proportion ofmineral oil to thesaid ester being from about 25 to about 95% mineraloil and about 75 to 5% oi. the said rosin ester.

5. A textile fiber sized with a composition comprising mineral oil and aglycol ester or a rosin, said ester having a melting point within therange of about 25' C. to about 70 0., the. proportion of mineral oil tothe said ester bein rrom about 25 to about'95% mineral oil and about 75to 5% of the said rosin ester.

6. A textile fiber sized with a composition com- 12. The method orsizing textile fibers prior to weaving which comprises treating thefiber with a composition comprising mineral oil and a glycol ester or arosin, said ester having a melting point within the range-oi about 25 C.to about 70 C., the proportion oi mineral oil to the said ester beingfrom about 40 to about 60% mineral oil and about 60 to 40% or the saidrosin ester.

JULIUS G, IIITLE.

v Pa tent No. 2,5'h,552.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

- I JULIUS G. LITTLE. It is hereby certified that errbr nfipeara' in thebrintedj e aecificetion of the above nunbered patent requiringcorrection as follows Page 1, first column, line 55, fO1 th6 word"wearing"- read -weaving--;

and that the acid Letters Patene should. be read with this coi'rectiontherein that the same may confom to the record of the casein the Patent,Office.

Signed and sealed. this 15?: day 01 June, A.'D. 191414.

Leel'ie Frazer (Sea1) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

